"Genealogy, begins as an interest, becomes a hobby, continues as an avocation and in the last stages, is an incurable disease." -- copied"One who feels no pride in ancestors is unworthy to be remembered by descendants." -- copied"Movies may not reflect reality, but they powerfully condition what we desire, expect and feel we deserve from it." -- Ann Hornaday"The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race." -- John Roberts"There is more real pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness in half an hour with God...than in all the delights of sin, all the lusts of the flesh, all the pride of life, and all the amusements that the world has ever devised..." -- J. C. Philpot"God wants you to love people more than He wants you to fix people." -- Steve Brown"You can't bed with skunks and expect to smell like roses." -- Traditional proverb"You have to remember that babies are fresh from God." -- Sue Hillman (foster parent)"Truth is still truth, even if no one believes it."

Ye are bought with a price. - 1 Corinthians 6:20"How deep, how dreadful, of what awful magnitude, of how black a dye, of how ingrained a stamp must sin be, to need such an atonement--no less than the blood of him who was the Son of God--to put it away." -- J. C. PhilpotWhat can wash away my sin?Nothing but the blood of Jesus!What can make me whole again?Nothing but the blood of Jesus! Robert Lowery

Monday, May 26, 2014

"Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country."

Thursday, May 22, 2014

"When man was created he was blessed in many ways above other creatures; one blessing in particular was the voice with which to speak, and sing hymns of love and adoration to the Creator. He who uses not the voice given him, deprives himself of much pleasure, and is guilty of the sin of omission. Nothing short of the use of the voice to the fullest extent will suffice." -- "B. L. Vaughn, Singer and Instructor in Vocal Music" (Benjamin Lewis Vaughn, 1885--1912)

Saturday, May 17, 2014

We are called Baptists. A name which was once better understood than at present, once applied exclusively to the followers of the Lamb of God, but now prostituted in many instances, as a cognomen to conceal the murderous spirit of those who “have gone in the way of Cain, ran greedily after the error of Balaam, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.” (Jude 11) The first man that ever bore the Baptist name was beheaded by the decree of Herod, and from the day he suffered, to the present, the history of the people to whom that name legitimately belongs, may be traced in characters of blood.

Some comments from a Michigan black pastors' coalition, and two links:

"The fact that American media or other factions erroneously characterize the traditional meaning of 'marriage' as being on par with the civil rights deprivations of Black Americans does not make it so."

"A person’s sexuality and sexual preferences, however, are not their state of being, or even an immutable aspect of who they are, as race is," it reads. "The truth of the matter is that it is merely activity in which they engage. The state has no responsibility to promote any person’s sexual proclivities, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or otherwise."

"All states routinely require certain qualifications to obtain a marriage license and disallow certain individuals who do not meet those qualifications. States discriminate against first cousins, for example, by not allowing them to marry. States discriminate against bigamists, polygamists, and polyamorists in the licensing of marriage, and it is within the states’ right to do so."

Friday, May 16, 2014

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1)Consider four truths: God’s love is –Eternal – it is without beginning and end. ‘In love, having predestined us’ (Eph 1:4-5). ‘Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee’ (Jer 31:3).Sovereign – it is without external influence. ‘Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated’ (Rom 9:13). ‘According to the good pleasure of his will’ (Eph 1:4)Immutable –it is without change. ‘strong as death…many waters cannot quench it’ (SS 8:6-7). ‘having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end’ (John 13:1). ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?’(Rom 8:35)Gracious – it is without condition. ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son’ (Jn 3:16). God’s definite love rested on the fulfillment of one condition: the obedience of Christ unto death. The Father was satisfied with everything concerning His Son; likewise, He was satisfied with His elect.Christ didn’t die to make God love them; rather, Christ died because God loved them. His love sent the Son; and love moved the Son to give His life. The ultimate purpose of all God did in behalf of those chosen before the foundation of the world was for “the praise of the glory of his grace” (Eph 1:6). The imputation of Christ’s righteous work resulted in the elect being forgiven from sin, redeemed from the Law’s curse, justified from condemnation, and adopted as God’s children. John said, God “bestowed” love and “called” us His “sons”. This relationship isn’t by natural birth or human decision. It came by declaration and Christ’s finished work.---T. David Simpson

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Be this never forgotten, that if we have ever been brought near to the Lord Jesus Christ by the actings of living faith, there never can be any final, actual separation from him. In the darkest moments, in the dreariest hours, under the most painful exercises, the most fiery temptations, there is, as with Jonah in the belly of hell, a looking again toward the holy temple. There is sometimes a sigh, a cry, a groan, a breathing forth of the heart's desire to "know Him, and the power of his resurrection;" that he would draw us near unto himself, and make himself precious to our souls. And these very cries and sighs, groanings and breathings, all prove that whatever darkness of mind, guilt of conscience, or unbelief we may feel, there is no real separation. It is in grace as it is in nature; the clouds do not blot out the sun; it is still in the sky, though they often intercept his bright rays. And so with the blessed Sun of righteousness; our unbelief, our ignorance, our darkness of mind, our guilt of conscience, our many temptations--these do not blot out the Sun of righteousness from the sky of grace. Though thick clouds come between him and us and make us feel as though he was blotted out, or at least as if we were blotted from his remembrance, yet, through mercy, where grace has begun the work, grace carries it on: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

"A love spread around: There, beauty is found." -- Shirley and Moe (elderly married couple)"The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder." -- Ralph W. Sockman"Feed your faith and starve your doubts." -- copied"So many lives have touched mine during our years of singing; I feel blessed." -- Martha Beverly"Music takes us out of the actual and whispers to us dim secrets that startles out wonder as to who we are, and for what, whence, and whereto." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson"Music is the universal language of mankind — poetry their universal pastime and delight." -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"The final aim and reason of all music is nothing other than the glorification of God and the refreshment of the spirit." -- Johann Sebastian Bach"It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself." -- Johann Sebastian Bach

Sunday, May 11, 2014

The following was written by Pastor David Brumbelow, author of the Gulf Coast Pastor blog.I believe Christians should oppose same-sex marriage for a number of reasons. They should do so while “speaking the truth in love.”1. The Bible condemns it.2. Legalization gives the practice governmental legitimacy. The government is placing its stamp of approval on homosexuality.3. It encourages further homosexual activity and experimentation.4. It is taught as normal and legitimate in public schools.5. Christians are forced to give their approval of same-sex marriage or suffer the consequences. We thereby lose Religious Liberty.6. Children struggling with sexual identity are encouraged toward homosexuality; or at least it‘s presented as a normal lifestyle. They can thereby be seriously harmed.7. Children in homosexual marriages suffer and struggle.8. The true meaning of marriage is re-defined.David R. Brumbelow, by permission, originally posted HERE.

"The carnations on Mother's Day could easily represent all the babies the world will never meet." -- Sarah Arthur"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." -- Tenneva Jordan“There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” -- Jill Churchill“Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.” -- Robert Browning"Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved." -- Erich Fromm“The phrase ‘working mother’ is redundant.” -- Jane Sellman"When your mother asks, 'Do you want a piece of advice?' it’s a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway." -- Erma Bombeck

Steve Cackley called attention to the following song by posting a link to it on Facebook. It is Stream of Death from The New Harmonia Sacra, or A Compilation of Genuine Church by Joseph Funk. It is on page 276 in the 1923 19th edition. Listen. It's good. (Only has the last 3 stanzas.)1 There is a stream whose narrow tideThe known and unknown worlds divide Where all must go.Its wavelces waters, dark and deep,'Mid sullen silence downward sweep,With moanless flow.2 I saw when at the dreary flood, A smiling infant prattling stoodWhose hour had come.Untaught of ill, he near'd the tideSunk, as to cradled rest, and died,Like going home. 3 Followed, with languid eye, anon, A youth diseased, and pale, and wan,And there alone.He gazed upon the leaden stream, And feared to plunge—I heard a scream,And he was gone. 4 And then a form, in manhood's strength, Came bustling on, till then at length, He saw life's bound. He shrunk and raised the bitter pray'r,Too late—His shriek of wild despair,The waters drowned. 5 Next stood upon that surgeless shoreA being bowed by many a scoreOf toilsome years. Earth-bound and sad he left the bank, Back turned his dimming eye, and sank,Ah, full of fears. 6 How bitter must thy waters be, O death! How hard a thing, ah me,It is to die!I mused, when to that stream again,Another form of mortal man,With smiles drew nigh.7. "'Tis the last pang," he calmly said,"To me, O death, thou hast no dread;Savior, I come! Spread but thine arms on yonder shoreI see, ye waters, bear me o'er,There is my home."[Miscellaneous Selections, Published as Supplement to the Connecticut Courant, Volume 5, 1838 credits this poem to "E. W. B. C." and the Cambridge Chronicle, Volume IV, Number 22, 31 May 1849 credits it to E. W. Channing.]

9Marks Journal for May–June 2014 (Volume 11, Issue 2) deals with the topic of "The Church Singing." Here are links to some of the articles. I have decidedly distinct opinions on music, and I don't endorse all of what is written in the Journal. But the articles contain thoughtful reflection on the subject of music in the churches, which often isn't the case. It seems like a lot of church music is on auto-pilot and no one is giving it any thought!* Five Qualities of a Congregational Song -- Matt Boswell* Music and Meaning: Some Forms Are Better than Others -- Ken Myers* My Congregation Barely Sings; How Can I Help? -- Jonathan Leeman and David Leeman* Rediscovering Jesus’ Hymnbook -- Joe Holland* Who Should Pick the Music? -- Michael Lawrence* Why We Sing -- Jonathan Leeman"A diet of unremittingly jolly choruses and hymns inevitably creates an unrealistic horizon of expectation which sees the normative Christian life as one long triumphalist street party..." -- Carl TruemanAlso saw this and thought it might have some interesting posts:* Word and Music -- All things Biblical and musical – and quite often both

Friday, May 09, 2014

Even baby armadillos are cute.I've lived in the rural countryside for most all of my nearly 57 years. Yesterday morning I saw a sight I've never seen before. The baby armadillo. As I left for work, at the bottom of the hill maybe a 100 yards from my house, I saw something moving in the dim light. As I got there in my vehicle, a mother armadillo moseyed across the road with four identical little ones obediently trailing behind her. With little sight and apparently even less fear, they worried not that the driving machine might pose any threat to them. I yielded for a minute or so as they sniffed, stopped, sniffed, stopped, and stepped their way across. I'm sure the hussy was taking her children up the hill to train them in how to ravage my yard...but for now I've given them a free pass.

"...atheism believes humans are merely biological, gene replicators trying their hardest to pass their genes on to the next generation in order to survive. What's with all the moral outrage over a female gene replicator being told to reproduce exclusively with an exceptionally aggressive male gene replicator? These two individuals are just a couple of highly evolved hominids. Do atheists get morally outraged with alpha male primates that 'rape' young female primates and add them to the 'harem' as it were?"

Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Mr. Bill Aplin of Samson, Alabama passed away early Monday morning, May 5th. He was born April 22, 1922, and was 92 years old. His funeral services were held today (May 7) at the First Baptist Church in Samson, Alabama. Burial was at Eight-Mile Cemetery (aka Mt. Gilead) in Geneva County, Alabama.Bill was an avid Sacred Harp singer and supporter. He served as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Sacred Harp Book Company for 40 years.Obituaries can be read HERE and HERE.

Monday, May 05, 2014

Pippin, Eveleta/Evaleta (December 18, 1891—May 18, 1974) was the daughter of Reverend Martin Franklin Pippin and Ella C. Deal. She married Edward R. Phillips, Jr. in 1914 in Dale County. They are buried at the Union Cemetery in Ozark. (“Evaleta” is the spelling on her tombstone). Listed "as sung by Miss Eveleta Pippin" and added to the book in 1909.

Sunday, May 04, 2014

Widow Alma Popper invited the Reverend Peacock and his wife to dinner. They knew the poverty in which she lived and didn't expect much. They were flabbergasted with the vast array of dishes she put before them. The old sister had fried chicken, baked chicken, chicken dressing, and just about any other chicken dish a minister could think of. They ate until they could hold no more, then rested & visited awhile before giving the parting hand. Rev. & Sister Peacock thanked Widow Popper profusely as they left. As they walked toward the gate, two chickens wobbled around the corner and fell to the ground convulsing.The preacher called for the widow and screamed, "Sister Popper, something's wrong with your chickens!"The Widow Popper replied, "I know. They're dying faster than I can cook 'em."

Thursday, May 01, 2014

The child of God is not always petted, and fed upon love-tokens. He is not always carried in the warm bosom, or sucking the breasts of consolation, but he has to learn lessons to fit him to be a soldier. The soldier, we know, has to endure hardships. He has to lie all night upon the wet grass; to be pinched with hunger, parched with thirst, and nipped with cold; to make harassing marches; to hear the roar of the cannon and the whistling of the bullets, "the thunder of the captains and the shouting;" to see the flash of the sabre uplifted to cut him down, and the glitter of the bayonet at his breast, aye, and to feel painful and dangerous wounds. So with the spiritual soldier in God's camp.